Effects of cigarette smoking on hemorheologic parameters, plasma osmolality and lung function

• Published in: Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation Vol. 63; no. 4; pp. 313 - 324
• Main Authors: Ergun, Dilek Duzgun, Karis, Denizhan, Alkan, Fatma Ates, Cakmak, Gulfidan, Yenigun, Mustafa, Ercan, Meltem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 05.10.2016
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Female; Hemorheology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Osmolar Concentration; Respiratory Function Tests; Smoking - adverse effects; Smoking - physiopathology; lung function; oxygen delivery index; plasma osmolality; red blood cell aggregation; Cigarette smoking; plasma viscosity; red blood cell deformability; blood viscosity
• ISSN: 1386-0291; 1875-8622
• DOI: 10.3233/CH-152018

Cigarette smoking deteriorates human health via vascular disorders, cancer and especially respiratory diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate effects of cigarette smoking on hemorheologic parameters, plasma osmolality and lung function in individuals without diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients diagnosed without COPD utilizing respiratory function test were enrolled in the study with three groups, ex-smokers (n = 21), current-smokers (n = 35) and never-smokers (n = 43). Hemorheologic parameters and plasma osmolality were measured in hemorheology laboratory. SPSS 17.0 was used for statistical analysis. Blood and plasma viscosity, fibrinogen and hematocrit levels, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were significantly elevated in ex-smokers and current-smokers compared to never-smokers. The standardized red blood cell deformability and oxygen delivery index and lung function were statistically lower in current-smokers than never-smokers. Pulmonary blood flow rate was statistically lower in current-smokers and ex-smokers than never-smokers. Plasma osmolality was statistically significantly higher in ex-smokers and current-smokers than never-smokers. Our findings clearly show that cigarette smoking has severe effects on hemorheologic parameters, plasma osmolality and lung function even in individuals without COPD. Blood and plasma viscosity with plasma osmolality might be useful markers to detect early hemorheologic-hemodynamic alterations in cigarette smokers.